Dakota Climate Control Failure: Sensor Diagnosis Guide

Having dealt with a similar HVAC sensor issue on my 2012 Ram 1500 (fairly similar climate control setup), I can share my experience as someone with moderate car repair knowledge. The symptoms were identical, complete climate control failure and temperature reading issues. The workshop diagnosed it as a loose connection between the temperature sensor and the main control unit. The HVAC sensor wiring had developed a bad contact over time, causing erratic temperature control behavior. The fix involved reconnecting and securing the wiring harness properly, which cost 95€ including diagnostic time. The mechanic mentioned these sensor diagnostics are pretty common on this platform, and its often just connection issues rather than a complete sensor failure. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Whether the temperature display shows any reading at all, If the issue started gradually or happened suddenly, Whether you notice any clicking sounds from the climate control unit, If the manual fan speed controls still work This information would help determine if youre dealing with the same temperature control issue I experienced or if its something else in the system.

Thanks for checking my issue. My mileage is now 95246 KM since last service. The temperature display shows unusual numbers that dont match the actual cabin temperature. The issue developed gradually over about two weeks before completely failing. No clicking sounds from the unit at all. Manual fan speeds still work but without any actual cooling or heating effect. I checked all fuses and connections I could access, but Im hesitant to dig deeper into the system without knowing exactly what Im looking for. The sensor diagnostics from the error code reader points to the temperature sensor circuit, but Id rather get some confirmation before ordering parts. Would appreciate guidance on whether this matches what others experienced with their sensor issues. The climate regulation system worked fine until recently, and Im hoping its just a sensor problem rather than a complete control unit failure.

Based on those symptoms, especially the unusual temperature readings and gradual failure pattern, this definitely mirrors the sensor diagnostics I ran into with my Ram 1500. The fact that your manual fan speeds work but without temperature control strongly points to temperature sensor issues rather than a complete control unit failure. In my case, after initially suspecting a faulty sensor, we found the wiring between the sensor and climate regulation module had deteriorated. The unusual temperature reading behavior is particularly telling, its exactly what happened with my truck before the system stopped responding completely. For reference, my repair involved: 1. Testing the temperature sensor circuit (45€) 2. Tracing and repairing the wiring connection (80€) 3. Recalibrating the climate control system (35€) Since youve already verified the fuses and basic connections, Id suggest focusing on the temperature sensor wiring harness area first. The sensor diagnostics pointing to the temperature sensor circuit aligns perfectly with the typical failure pattern in these models. Before replacing the sensor outright, have a shop check the wiring connections, could save you from unnecessarily swapping parts. The total diagnostic and repair cost should run between 150-200€ depending on what they find.

Appreciate the detailed follow-up. This matches exactly what Im experiencing with my Dakota. Really helpful to know about the wiring being a potential culprit rather than just the sensor itself. The unusual temperature readings were driving me crazy, so its good to hear this is a known issue. Will schedule an appointment to have the sensor diagnostics done first. The cost breakdown you provided helps set realistic expectations for the repair. Makes sense to check the wiring before jumping straight to replacing the temperature sensor. My regular shop quoted me 175€ for full diagnosis and repair, which seems fair based on your experience. Fingers crossed its just the wiring causing these climate regulation problems. At least the manual fan still works while I wait for the repair. Will update once I get it checked out. Thanks for walking me through your similar experience, definitely helped narrow down where to focus the troubleshooting.